'di)-M4^. 


[House  o:-'  R«presicntativks  No.  288.] 

II0U8K  OF  RKPRESEXTATIVES,  December  24, 1864— Read 
first  and  secon<i  times,  and  referred  to  Committee  on  Military  Af- 
fairs. January  5.  1865  — Made  special  order  after  existing  special 
order,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

[J3j  Mr.  Wk.k'ham.I 


A    BILL 

To  be  ontuiei  An  Act  authorizing  the  promotion  of  officers,  non- 
commissioned oEScers  and  privates,  for  distinguished  valor 
and  skill  or  for  peculiar  competency  and  general 
merit. 

1  The  Congrfus  of  tke.    Confeierafe  States  of  America  do  enact, 

2  That  the  President  is  hereby  authorized,  upon  the  recommenda- 
5     tion  of  the  General  officer  commanding  a  department   or  sep- 

4  erate  army  in  the  field,  to  fill  any  vacancy  in  the  commissioned 

5  officers  of  a  regiment,  battalion  or  company,  by  the  promotion 

6  to  tiie  same  by  and  with  the  advice  and   consent  of  the  Senate, 

7  of  any  officer.   noD-commis?ioned    officer  or   private,  who  may 

8  have  distinguished  himself  by  exhibiting  peculiar  valor  or  skill 

9  on  the  battle  field,  or  who  is  possessed  of  peculiar  competency, 

10  efficiency  and  general  merit :  but  tlie  p«r.son8  so  recommended 

11  for  promotion,   shall  belong   to   the  regiment  or  battalion  in 

12  which  the  vacancy  shall  exist. 

1  Sec.  2.     Such  persons  shall,  as  soon  as  the  recommendation  is 

2  forwarded  by   auch  Generl  officer,   be   assigned  to  duty   in  the 

3  office  to  which  he  is  recommended  to  be  promoted. 


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